Today, Tampa got the snub from The Rolling Stones, which opted to book its only 2015 Florida date in Orlando. While the Bay area might not be getting love from Mick & Co., we sure are getting a whole lotta coddling from just about everyone else.
Garth Brooks, Ed Sheeran, and Ariana Grande have all booked dates at Tampa’s Amalie Arena, and we’re also learning that the Smashing Pumpkins are coming to the Amphitheatre Formerly Known As Gary. The icing on the cake, though, is confirmation of an appearance by Boy George and Culture Club in Madeira Beach.
Yes, on August 15, Boy George is bringing his karma chameleons to a newly renovated “waterfront recreation complex” at MadBeach, and the Tampa Bay Times points out that promoter Harry Tiyler has booked the performance as part of a “unity festival to promote racial, religious, and sexual-orientation tolerance.” Tickets are $30-$179 and become available on Thursday. For more information, click here.
Garth Brooks, the true king of modern country music, announced that his first Tampa appearance in a decade and a half will happen when he puts on a two-night stand at downtown’s Amalie Arena on June 5 & 6. Tickets to see the top selling solo artist in U.S. history go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. EST and will run you $74.98. The opener? Brooks’ wifey, Trisha Yearwood. Click here for more info.
Ariana Grande is also coming to that big ol’ arena on the channel when her summer “Honeymoon Tour” stops in on July 16. The former Nickelodeon star-turned-straight up pop superstar (you know you love “One Last Time” and the edgier “Love Me Harder” with The Weeknd) has been nominated for two Grammys in her short career. Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday, April 4 at 10 a.m. EST. They’ll cost you $26.25-$66.25 and Latin pop it boy Prince Royce opens the show. More information is available here.
Representing for loverlorn gingers across the globe, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter (and Taylor Swift pal) Ed Sheeran is also coming to Amalie Arena this fall when the second leg of his North American tour arrives on September 10. It’ll be the the 24-year-old’s first appearance in Tampa since he played the same room as the opener on Swift’s “Red” tour. Tickets are $56.25-$66.25 and go on sale Saturday April 4 at 10 a.m. EST. Click here for more info.
Finally, today also brought news of a co-headlining show by The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson. Dubbed “The End Times Tour,” the 23-date jaunt stops at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre (FKA The Gary) on July 24. Even after years of barreling towards obscurity, there still aren’t very many personalities bigger than Manson and the Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, and both of their respective outfits will have new albums to support. Tickets go on sale on April 11 at 10 a.m. EST and will run you $29.50-$69.50. Click here for more info.
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Whew, is your wallet crying yet? Check out the most eclectic of YouTube playlists featuring aforementioned artists below.